Improvement in cotton-choppers



T; G. W. MGMEEKIN 8:. W W HUNT.

Cotton-Chopper. N0,I69,185. Pa1enwd0ct.26,1875.

WITNESSES INVENTORS N.PETERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAFNER WASHINGTON D 0 UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

THOS. e. w. MGMEEKIN AND WM. w. HUNT, 0F OEDARTOWN, GEORGIA.

lMPROVEMENT IN COTTON-CHOPPERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 169,185., dated October 26, 1875; application filed July 24, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, THoMAs G. W. Mc- MEEKIN and WILLIAM W. HUNT, both of Gedartown, in the county of Polk and State of Georgia, have invented a new and valuable Improvement in Cotton-Choppers; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a plan view of our cotton-chopper, and'Fig. 2 is a detail view thereof. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of the same,- and Fig. 4 is an end view.

Our invention relates to machines for chopping cotton; and it consists in the construction and novel arrangement of a cam-wheel and two pivoted levers having projections working therein, and adjustable hoe-blades at their rear ends, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a suitable frame provided on its under side with journal-boxes B, in which the axle a is placed. On each end of this axle is fastened a driving- Wheel, G, and in the center, within the frame,

is a wheel or cylinder, D, secured to the axle.

This wheel or cylinder .is, around its circumference, provided with two zigzag grooves, b b, having straight portions b at the inner angles, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. In rear of the cylinder D, to the under side of a cross-bar in theframe A, are pivoted two lovers, E E, which cross each other at the pivot-point, and are, at their front ends, provided with projections e e which extend down into the cam-grooves b on the cylinder. The rear ends of the levers E E are bent or extended downward and formed at their lower extreme ends with slotted holders G, in which the hoe-blades H are inserted and fastened by any suitable means. At the front end of the frame A is a clevis, I, and at the rear end the handles J J for guiding the machine. As the machine is moving forward the hoes obtain an intermittent reciprocating motion out and in. When the hoes are thrown inward they remain in that position, while the projections e traverse the straight parts b of the cam-grooves'on the cylinder, during which time the hoes scrape the cotton, as they are moving forward all the time.

The hoes H may be adjusted out and in, as required in the holders G.

The levers may be arranged so as not to cross each other, and the cams arranged on the sides or ends of the cylinder D, and operate in the same manner.

The machine as constructed is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, efficient I and durable in operation, and not liable to get out of order.

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination of the cylinder D, having zigzag cam-grooves b, with straight parts I) at the inner angles, and the pivoted levers E working in said cam-grooves, and having the hoe-blades attached to their rear ends, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that we claim the above we have hereunto subscribed our names in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS GEORGE WASHINGTON MGMEEKIN.

WILLIAM WILKERSON HUNT..

Witnesses:

WILLIAM R. BEoK, J NO. L. BRANoH. 

